Waterloo RUFC’s fan management attracts worldwide investment

RUGBY fans from 32 countries have signed up to manage beleaguered Waterloo Rugby Club.

Just one week after launching their revolutionary website at Twickenham, directors of www.mywaterloorugby.com said they were astounded at the global level of support their fundraising initiative has gathered.

The new website – www.mywaterloorugby.com – is a groundbreaking concept in rugby management as online members will have the chance to make key decisions about the historic Merseyside club.

It is “fantasy rugby” but with a real club as each week members will be asked to make one commercial decision as well as given the opportunity to pick the team.

Already rugby fans from 32 countries have signed up to help manage the “nearly-broke” club which directors admit is now in the “last chance saloon.”

Dave Raywood, director of www.mywaterloorugby.com, said: “We are amazed and thrilled that rugby fans from 32 countries have already shown their interest in supporting Waterloo.

“As you may expect there are a number of managers from traditional Rugby-loving countries such as Australia, New Zealand and France, but also from as far afield as China, Bangladesh and Trinidad and Tobago.

“We always hoped that there would be a community of rugby-loving ex-pats who would relish that chance to get involved in English Rugby by joining www.mywaterloorugby.com

“And given the initial website feedback it would seem that we have their support.

“We are absolutely delighted. It would seem that www.mywaterloorugby.com is really capturing international rugby fans’ imagination.

“www.mywaterloorugby.com is an experiment that the entire Rugby world is watching.

“Waterloo is beginning to connect with its fans and the wider rugby community like no club has ever done before.”

The new members join founding managers, and ex-Waterloo players, such as England Internationals Ben Kay, Stuart Turner and Gill Burns and former England manager Dick Greenwood in making the first commercial decisions about the club.

The online managers made their fist commercial decision last week – choosing to donate 50p from every £25 website subscription to the Wooden Spoon Rugby charity for mentally and physically damaged children.

Dave added: “The managers were given three choices – 50p, 75p and £1.

“More than 60% voted that 50p should be taken from every £25 subscription to be given to the Wooden Spoon.

“It is clear that our new managers are desperate for as much money as possible to go directly to helping Waterloo stop the slide and begin the journey back to its glory days.

“They understand that Rugby needs clubs at the level of Waterloo to foster talent such as Ben Kay, Austin Healey and Will Greenwood.

“In making this decision both the Wooden Spoon and Waterloo will both benefit immensely.”

“It is going to be interesting to see what further choices about the club our new managers are going to make.